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BOOK OF WORDS 



THE PAGEANT OF DARIEN 

THE PAGEANT 
OF A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY 



WILLIAM CHAUNCY LANGDON 

MASTER OF THE PAGEANT 




WHERE GOODWIVES' RIVER 

FLOWS INTO GORHAM'S POND, NEAR NOROTON 

IN THE 

TOWN OF DARIEN, CONNECTICUT 

AUGUST 2 9 ia. 3 C5k SEPTEMBER 1, 1913 






Copyright, 1913, by 

William Chauncy Langdon 

all rights reserved 



©CI.D 34387 



THE PAGEANT OF DARIEN 



THE PAGEANT COMMITTEE 

Executive Committee 

Henry M. Baker, Chairman 

Howard Stout Neilson, Business Manager 

George R. Bearse, Treasurer 

Mark W. Norman, Secretary 

Frank R. Holmes 

Alfred Morehouse, Jr. 

Alfred H. Renshaw 

Arthur Philips 

Edwin Milton Royle 

Women's Executive Committee 

Mrs. Arthur Philips, Chairman 
Miss Birdsall 
Mrs. B. B. Holmes 
Mrs. Frank R. Holmes 
Mrs. Franklin M. Jones 
Mrs. George H. Noxon 
Mrs. George F. Pentecost, Jr. 
Mrs. Alfred H. Renshaw 
Mrs. Edwin Milton Royle 
Mrs. William M. Weed 



THE PAGEANT DIRECTION 

William Chauncy Langdon 
Master of the Pageant 

Arthur Farwell 
Composer and Director of the Music 

Marion Langdon 
Director of the Costuming 

Bertha Knight 
Director of the Dancing 



The Pageant of Darien. 



FOREWORD. 

The Pageant of Darien is the drama of a residential community. 
Situated thirty-eight miles from New York City and thirty-five miles 
from New Haven, having neither manufacturing nor business and de- 
siring none, Darien is distinctly a town of homes. It is a town of 
people who want to have a good, comfortable home, who most of them 
have to earn their living in the city but want to bring up their children 
in the country. The Pageant of Darien is a study in dramatic form of 
the history, life and problems of a small town within the home radius of 
a great metropolitan centre. What is home to a commuter? Is there any 
interest, beauty, inspiration in his hurried, to and fro existence? Of 
what nature was the country and village life that led up to the life 
of the suburban town of the present? The Pageant of Darien will 
depict the story of its development as a town. The episodes either 
reproduce actual events or characterize the life in the town at suc- 
cessive periods. 

The pageant-grounds are located on the shore of Gorham's Pond, 
one of the beautiful inlets that make in from the Sound along the 
Connecticut shore. On these very grounds occurred many of the in- 
cidents enacted in the pageant. On the left of the audience is a 
wooded hill, from which the woods extend a large part of the way 
across the back of the pageant-field to the water where Goodwives' 
River empties into Gorham's Pond. Jutting out into the inlet at the 
right of the audience is a little point whereon is an old family grave- 
yard of a hundred years ago. The field itself slopes down from the 
hill on the left to the water on the right. 

The Pageant of Darien has been written and composed on the 
principle that both dramatically and musically the pageant is a dis- 
tinct and individual art form, having its own laws and its own tech- 



The Pageant of Darien. 



nique. All the elements of the Pageant of Darien, — the dramatic epi- 
sodes, the orchestral and choral compositions, the costume designing, 
and the dramatic dancing, — have been worked together in accordance 
with these laws and technical considerations to produce, if may be, 
a beautiful and impressive picture of the life of this historic Connecti- 
cut town. 

In presenting the historical material a certain freedom has been 
exercised for the sake of dramatic effectiveness. In many instances 
the language of the dialogue is in the actual words of the characters 
represented. It has, however, seemed inadvisable to indicate these 
passages by quotation marks on account of the frequent necessity for 
making slight changes, omissions or additions in the wording to suit 
the situation as represented. So also since the writing of the pagreant- 
book, certain omissions have been deemed advisable for the 
performance which it has not seemed necessary to eliminate in 
this printed form of the pageant. 

W. C. L. 



The Pageant of Darien. 



THE PAGEANT OF DARIEN 



Introduction : The Place of Rest and Strength. 



Episode 1 
Episode 2 
Episode 3 



The Men of Wethersfield 1641 
The War with Norwalk 1670 

The Mill at the Landing 1744 



Interlude I : The Changing Tide 



Episode 4 
Episode 5 
Episode 6 



The Raid on the Middlesex Church 1781 
The Town of Darien 1820 

The Coming of the Railroad 1849 



Interlude II : Principle (1861-1865) 

Episode 7 : Just Home 1885 

Episode 8: A Place in the Country 1905 



Interlude III : The Commuter 

Episode 9: The New Darien 1915 

Finale: The Community Home 



The Pageant of Darien. 



THE MUSIC OF THE PAGEANT 

Arthur Farwell, 
Composer and Drector. 

As a musical work the Pageant of Darien consists of the follow- 
ing dramatic scenes, all of which have been composed for orchestra 
and in part for solo and chorus voices : 

Introduction : The Place of Rest and Strength 
The Song of the Man 
The Song of the Angels 

Interlude I : The Changing Tide 
The Indian's Chant 

Interlude II : Principal 

Interlude III: The Commuters 

Finale: The Community Home 
The Call to the Generations 
The Song of the People of Darien 
America 
The Recessional Song of Darien 

In addition, as incident to the historic action in Episode 4: The 
Raid on the Middlesex Church, the old hymn, Norwalk. by Mather, 
is sung by the congregation in that episode. 



The Pageant of Darien. U 



THE PAGEANT OF DARIEN 

INTRODUCTION 
THE PLACE OF REST AND STRENGTH 

Trumpets and harps sound forth the chief motif of the pageant, 
the motif of the Angel of Rest and Strength. From out of the woods 
comes the Angel, alighting sword in hand a short ways out into the 
field. She is clothed in rose, and her wings are a deeper rose with 
the feathers tipped with gold. The Angel sweeps her sword out over 
the ground and then raises it high in command. From the woods come 
Forest Spirits, mostly in green, and from the inlet Water Spirits, 
mostly in blue. They bring with them at the behest of the Angel ever- 
green boughs which they pile before the Angel as a resting place, wood 
which they build into a fire, and water, some of which they pour out 
as a libation before the Angel and before the fire. Meantime Evil 
Spirits peer out from the woods inquisitively and watch the prepara- 
tion. Again the Angel sweeps forth her sword over the place of rest 
and refreshening. 

From the shore, between the grave-yard and the water, comes a 
Man, a pilgrim through the world. On his back he bears a large and 
heavy burden, under which he staggers along. Following him comes 
his wife, carrying one little child in her arms and leading another 
by the hand. Two other children trudge along after their parents. 
They plod along on their way, striving to attain to the Place of Rest 
and Strength where they see the Angel. 

The Angel goes back into the forest, and the Spirits also retire 
back whence they came. But the Evil Spirits emerge and with con- 
certed action start to divert and impede the Man's course, pointing him 
oflf in another direction, seizing him by the garments and dragging him 



12 The Pageant of Darien. 

back, well nigh frustrating his efforts to make any progress. Finally 
from the grave-yard comes Death, shrouded in mouldy white, with 
other kindred beings, who attempt to draw the Man back or to take one 
or other of his dear ones from him. Persistently the Man, followed 
by his wife and terrified children staggers along amid the ejaculatory 
mutterings of the evil ones. At last beaten down to the ground and 
driven back almost as far as he had come, in the anguish of despair 
the Man gives voice to his yearning and determination. 



THE SONG OF THE MAN. 

Curse ye ! Begone, 

Evil forebodings. 

My wearied children 

Must reach yon refuge. 

Dare not molest them. 

Pestering imps ! 

Bar not our passage! 

Still we go onward, 

Spite all your malice ! — yea, at length 

Gain the Place of Rest and Strength ! 

The Evil Spirits laugh mockingly at the Man. 

Heavenward the smoke wreathes ! 

Fragrant the fir! 

Behold the cool water 

Awaiting us there ! 

Bright Angels bless the longed-for place, 

And gentle Spirits dwell around ! 

For there I saw 

A radiant Angel 

Bidding us hasten, 

Bring our dear children there ! 

Then on ! Still on ! On ! At length 

Our goal we reach, — the Place of Rest and Strength ! 



The Pageant of Darien. 13 

Death makes a sudden attack and seizes one of the children. The 
mother and the Man in despair grapple with Death to wrest the child 
from him. 

Angel ! Glorious one ! Return ! 

Stretch forth thy sword ! Save, save our child. 

From Death oh bring us safe at length 

To that fair Place of Rest and Strength ! 

Again to the sound of trumpets and harps the Angel comes forth 
from the depths of the forest. With a sweep of her sword she com- 
mands the Evil Spirits to desist. They fall back to the two sides, 
Death alone still pursuing the Man a little ways as he now more 
steadily makes his way up toward the place of rest and refreshening. 
Then Death, too, retires back to his graves. 

Reaching the place the Man sinks on one knee before the Angel. 
At the touch of her sword the Man drops his burden to the ground. 
The Man and the Woman pour water on each other's hands and 
wrists, and give the children to drink. Then all lie down on the ever- 
green boughs before the fire, the Man and the Woman pillowing their 
heads on the burden. They fall asleep. 

The Angel raises her arms and her sword over the sleeping 
family. From the woods and from the water again come the kindly 
Spirits waving green branches and wafting breezes over them. Then 
last at the summons of the Angel from the depths of the forest come 
a number of Angels, who alight and stand guard over the family as 
they sleep. The music, in which the voices of the Angels and Spirits 
blend, dazzlingly brilliant, surpassingly majestic, expresses the increas- 
ing strength the Man and his family are gaining, finally reaching a 
climax of power, with which the Man and his family awaken. 

THE SONG OF THE ANGELS. 

Peace and Strength in all your ways ! 

Courage nerve you for the strife ! 
Here shall Rest restore your days, 

Love assuage the toil of life ! 



14 The Pageant of Darien. 

Never here shall Doubt or Fear 

Gloom the radiance of the heart! 
Nor Distrust dispel the Cheer 

Of the Place — the Place Apart ! 

Rise ! Go forth thy meed to earn ! 

Spend thy strength ! Then home return ! 
Wearied, weak, return at length 

To the Place of Rest and Strength ! 

The Man and his family arise. Lightly he resumes his burden, 
and the Angel pointing him forth his way on up the hill through the 
woods, he departs, followed by his family. The Spirits retire back 
among the trees. The Angels go back into the forest. 



The Pageant of Darien. 15 



EPISODE 1: THE MEN OF WETHERSFIELD. 

(1641) 

From the wood-road comes an Indian runner, who turns up 
toward the hill giving the short shrill cry of a fox. He plunges into 
the woods of the hill. In a moment he returns leading three Indian 
chiefs, the Sagamores Ponus, Wascusse and Owenoke, Ponus' son. 
Out of the woods following them stealthily come a number of Indians, 
all looking and listening intently in the direction whence the runner 
came. One Indian climbs a tree and peers forth into the forest, now 
and then giving the caw of a crow, which the other Indians seem to 
understand. A group of squaws and children follow but are warned 
back. Finally the Indian in the tree gives three hurried caws, points 
to the woods, and glides down the tree. Watching the wood-road the 
Indians conceal themselves in the underbrush. 

Out of the forest by the wood-road come the Men of Wethersfield 
with their families and goods and driving their sheep and cattle. The 
Rev. Richard Denton rides on a horse in the lead with his Bible-box 
with him on the horse. Most of the men are on foot, but here and there 
is a man on horseback with his wife a-pillion behind him. There are 
several ox-carts loaded high with household and farming goods. The 
older boys walk ; the girls and younger children ride, the little ones 
being carried by their mothers in their arms. 

The three Indian Sagamores step forward from among the trees 
and advance toward the white men with uplifted hands. The cara- 
van stops. The Rev. Richard Denton dismounts and he and two of 
the other men, Matthew Mitchell and Francis Bell, go forward to 
meet the Indians, their hands also uplifted. Some of the Indians rise 
from their hiding places and others are seen skulking around through 
the trees to gain positions on the flank and in the rear of the settlers. 

Ponus : Who are you ? Why do you come through my hunting 
grounds ? 



16 The Pageant of Darien. 

Rev. Richard Denton : We are come seeking a home. 

PoNUS : Home ? Waugh ! Hunting ground ? Mine. 

Rev. Richard Denton : What are your names? 

PoNUS (pointing to himself and to the others in turn) : Ponus ; 
Wascusse ; Owenoke. 

The three white men confer with each other, pointing at the three 
Indians, after which the Rev. Richard Denton again turns to the 
Indians. 

Rev. Richard Denton : Then know, Ponus, Wascusse and Owenoke, 
that we have bought all the land of Rippowams from the New 
Haven Colony (Expressions of indignant objections from the 
Indians). You sold it to them, to Nathaniel Turner of Ouenepi- 
ocke. 

Ponus: No. No sell; no sell. (The other two Indians join in the 
denial.) 

Rev. Richard Denton: Here is the paper. You signed it with your 
mark, every one of you. Here; and here; and here. (The Indi- 
ans look at the marks.) And Captain Turner paid you for the 
land at the time in part 12 glasses, 12 knives and 4 coats. 

Francis Bell : See, there is one of the knives he gave you in your belt. 

Matthew Mitchell : You sold this land and we have bought it. We 

will defend it. 
Rev. Richard Denton : The Men of Quenepiocke, of New Haven, 

are behind this paper. 

Ponus looks on the other side of the paper incredulously. He 
then looks at the swords and flint-locks of Francis Bell and of Mat- 
thew Mitchell, and glances off at the numbers of the settlers. At a 
slight sign from him the Indian runner comes up and with gestures re- 
ports the large numbers of the white men and their strength. Ponus 
then indicates his consent to the claims of the Men of Wethersfield. 
Ponus : Waugh ! All right. 

Rev. Richard Denton : This land, Rippowams, all Toquams and 
Shippan, is ours, to be our home and our children's home forever, 
as long as the sun shines and the rivers flow. (Phlegmatic ex- 



The Pageant of Darien. 17 

clamations of assent from the Indians.) Only you may hunt and 
fish here in your native forests and streams. (Animated and de- 
lighted expressions from the Indians, some starting forward at 
once to examine the sheep and the cattle.) 

Francis Bell and Matthew Mitchell : Hold ! Back ! 

Rev. Richard Denton : Only the wild, not these animals, these sheep 
and cattle that we bring with us. (Disgruntled assent on the part 
of the Indians.) And there shall be peace and friendship between 
Ponus and Wascusse and Owenoke and their people and the Men 
of Wethersfield and their people forever, as long as the sun shall 
shine and the rivers flow. 

Ponus, Wascusse and Owenoke : Waugh ! Waugh ! Good ! Good ! 

At a sign from Ponus several of the Indian warriors come for- 
ward, as also do several of the settlers. They all sit down in a circle 
with an opening towards the east. The peace-pipe is lighted by Ponus, 
passed around and smoked by all. Some of the other Indians stand 
by watching ; others yield to their curiosity in regard to the white men, 
their flocks, herds and possessions. They are prevented by the alert 
attention of the settlers from stealing, however. One, much interested 
in the dogs, seizes one of them, feels his ribs and legs to see if 
he would be good to eat, and examines his teeth, finally giving his 
verdict with a grunt, "Hm ! Wolf ! Tame wolf !" When the cere- 
mony of smoking the peace-pipe is concluded, the Indians rise, raise 
their hands in salutation and disappear into the forest. 

Rev. Richard Denton (turning with Francis Bell and Matthew 
Mitchell to the Company of the Men of Wethersfield) : Come now, 
my people. Through toils and journeyings and tribulations the 
Lord has led us into this land. Here are we on the borders of our 
land, a goodly land, flowing with milk and honey, which the 
Lord has appointed us for our dwelling place from generation to 
generation. 

Stand forth now therefore ye whose place is here to the east 
of the River of the Rippowams, as was' apportioned in the meet- 
ing. 



18 The Pageant of Darien. 

Francis Bell, of the 276 acres the company of the people ap- 
portioned to you 7 acres, which lie on this side of the Rippowam. 
Are you content? 

Francis Bell : I am content. 

The People: It is well. 

Rev. Richard Denton : Draw then apart your people, your cattle 
and your goods, that you may enter into possession of your land. 
Francis Bell leads his ox-cart, on which is his wife and his goods, 
off to one side. The two others as called forth do the same. 

Rev. Richard Denton : Robert Bates, the company of the people 
apportioned to you 10 acres. Are you content? 

Robert Bates : I am content. 

The People: It is well. 

Rev. Richard Denton : Thomas Marshall, the company of the peo- 
ple apportioned to you 7 acres. Are you content? 

Thomas Marshall : I am content. 

The People: It is well. 

Rev. Richard Denton : And be it remembered that the company 
chose in meeting Matthew Mitchell and Francis Bell to lay out the 
assignments of the land. To rectify what is amiss and consider 
what allowance is to be made for holes, etc. which are not fit to 
be measured for land. If then any believe themselves aggrieved 
and with cause for complaint, let them betake them to Matthew 
Mitchell and to Francis Bell. 

The People : So let it be done. 

Rev. Richard Denton : Come now, friends, let us proceed on our 
way to the banks of the Rippowam, where are our lands, where 
our homes shall be. 

The Rev. Richard Denton leading the way, the company of the 
settlers again take up their way passing out together in the direction 
of the Rippowam River, Francis Bell, Robert Bates, and Thomas Mar- 
shall with their families and possessions severally taking their own 
ways to their own assignments of land. 



The Pageant of Darien. 19 



EPISODE 2: THE WAR WITH NORWALK. 

(1670) 

Piamakin, Sagamore of Rooaton, comes out of the woods, fol- 
lowed by a group of three warriors. He looks out over the water. 

Piamakin : There come men of Norwalk. Norwalk men buy land. 
Give Piamakin coats, knives, wampum. Great chief Piamakin. 

Warrior: What land Norwalk men buy? 

Piamakin: This land. All this land. 

Warrior: Stamford men buy this land years back. 

Piamakin : Stamford men buy ; Norwalk men buy. Good land. 
Piamakin sell land always. 

Warrior: Stamford men say. "This land our land. Give Piamakin 
long wampum years back. 

Piamakin : Stamford men give wampum. Wampum all gone. Where 
Stamford men now? New Stamford men. Deer all gone. Fish 
all gone. New deer. New fish. Only land and Piamakin still 
here. 

Warrior: White men kill. White men make war on Piamakin. 

Piamakin : White men make war, but not on Piamakin. White men 
make war on white men. Piamakin always smoke peace-pipe. 
Great chief Piamakin. 

A row-boat bearing four men from Norwalk puts ashore at the 
point. They draw the boat up on the land and come up to greet Piama- 
kin. About the same time a Stamford man comes along through the 
woods with snares and flint-lock, hunting. He catches sight of the 
approaching group without being himself seen. His suspicions are 
aroused and he steals up as close as he can to listen and observe. After 
silent greetings the Norwalk men give Piamakin presents, which he 
accepts. 



20 The Pageant of Darien. 

PiAMAKiN : Piamakin friend of Norwalk men. What Norwalk men 
want Piamakin do for his brothers ? It is already done. 

Matthias Richards : We want to buy land of Piamakin for Norwalk. 

Piamakin : Piamakin no want sell land. This land Piamakin's home. 
He love this land. But Piamakin's friends and brothers want 
this land. They shall have it. 

Matthias Richards: It is good. For how much you sell to 
Norwalk ? 

Piamakin: Piamakin no sell. He love Norwalk men. He give land 
to Norwalk men. 

Isaac Keeiler: And we will give you presents. 

Ephraim Greggorie : We will give you four coats. 

Matthias Richards : And twelve tobacco pipes. 

Nathaniel Marvin : And ten knives, and three fathom of wampum. 

There is a pause, during which Piamakin silently considers the 
proffer and eyes the Norwalk men critically. 

Piamakin: Not enough presents. More presents. 

Nathaniel Marvin : Twenty knives. 

Matthias Richards: And five fathom of wampum. 

Piamakin: And Piamakin hunt and fish here, and his people? 

Norwalk Men : Yes. 

Piamakin : It is good. Give me the wampum. Give me the coats, 
the pipes and the knives. Smoke the pipe. There shall be peace 
forever between Piamakin and Norwalk. 

The Norwalk men hand over some of the things, and go down to 
the boat for the rest of them. Piamakin and his warriors take them. 

Piamakin : It is good. The land belongs to my brothers. 

Piamakin abruptly disappears with his warriors into the woods. 

The Stamford man's indignation has been rising even beyond his pru- 
dence. As the Indians disappear, he bursts out upon the Norwalk 
men. 



The Pageant of Darien. 21 



Jeremy Simkins: Hold! I saw. I heard. This land belongs to 

Stamford. 
Isaac Keeiler: This land belongs to Norwalk. We have bought it. 
Jeremy Simkins: We will maintain our rights. 

Nathaniel Marvin : Away, silly man. Because we have got ahead 
of you and bought the land you desired, do you think to beat 
us out of our lawful possessions? 

Jeremy Simkins: I will to Stamford. 

Ephraim Greggorie : Do ! 

The Stamford man hurries out on the run. 

Isaac Keeiler: The man's temper gives speed to his legs. There 
are Stamford men not far from here. 

Nathaniel Marvin : Let us back and tell the town of Norwalk. 

Piamakin is seen passing in the woods. Matthias Richards hails 
him. 

Matthias Richards : Hear you, Piamakin. A man from Stamford 
came shouting in unseemly manner that Stamford owns this land. 

Piamakin : Piamakin knows he give this land to his brothers, to Nor- 
walk. See! Here is the wampum. 

Matthias Richards : We will defend our land. 
Norwalk Men : To the boat. 
Piamakin : Ugh ! It is good. 

The Norwalk men rush down to the boats and push off. Piama- 
kin watches them, and then disappears into the woods again. From the 
west come a group of Stamford men through the woods, cautiously 
peering out to see if the Norwalk men are still there. 

Matthew Lum : Go forth, Jeremy. See if the Norwalk men are 
still there. 

Jeremy Simkin : Nay. If they be, they might recognize me. 
John Pop: Can you not recognize them as well as they you? 

They push Simkins out into the open. Finding no one in sight, 
with increasing boldness he comes out a ways into the field. 



22 The Pageant of Darien. 

Jeremy Simkins: There is none here! They have fled! 
Several (coming out) : It is well. They admit they have no right. 

A man, Edmund Swead, climbs a tree down by the wall and looks 
across the water. 

Edmund Swead: The Norwalk m.en are coming! They have four 
boats ! 

Matthew Lum : Be brave, neighbors ! Courage for Stamford ! 

Simon Crabb : Now will we confront them ? 

Jeremy Simkins: Aye, I am afraid we will. 

Edmund Swead: Who knows but they come peaceably? 

Matthew Lum : We will conceal ourselves and watch what they do. 

Jeremy Simkins: Aye, that is an excellent plan. 

Matthew Lum : We will form in double line — the younger men in 
front, the older men as reserve in another line behind them. 

Andrew Seiring (an old man) : The older men behind to counsel 
and advise the younger men. 

Matthew Lum: Now, form the lines. (The men take places in 
two lines.) There, that is good. Here, Jeremy Simkins, you 
should be in the front line. 

Jeremy Simkins: But I am an older man. I can show you, Matthew 
Lum, in the Bible, by the entry of my birth that I am an older 
man. 

Matthew Lum: Nay, come forward! (Several push him forward.) 

Jeremy Simkins: I have the Bible for it! 

Matthew Lum : Now in this order conceal yourselves among the 
trees, until we see what the Norwalk men will do. 

As they hide behind the trees and in the underbrush, the men 
of Norwalk row up to the shore and beach their boats. Several come 
peering up the bank to see if any Stamford men are there. Some have 
axes and scythes. 

Matthias Richards: You men with axes and scythes go first, that 
it may appear that we have merely come with peaceful intent to cut 
wood and grass. 



The Pageant of Darien. 23 

Ralph Hales : Here, Joseph Senchion, you have no scythe. You 

may have mine. 
Joseph Senchion : No, no, you go ahead. 

Matthew Lum (rising, to the Stamford men) : Now, out upon them! 
Confront them ! 

The Stamford men rush out a short ways and stop. The Nor- 
walk men stop short in their tracks with astonishment. They face 
each other, neither side caring to make the next move. 

Stamford Men : Begone ! 
NoRWALK Men : Away with you ! 

Matthew Lum : What right have you Norwalk men to cut grass 
on this side the Five Mile River? 

Thomas Fitch (stepping forward amid noise and turmoil among the 
Norwalk men): Be quiet! Know, you men of Stamford, that 
the town of Norwalk has appointed me, Thomas Fitch, to come 
with the men of Norwalk who cross the Five Mile River to 
cut hay to make answer for or in hehalf of the town — and the 
rest to be silent. 

Matthew Lum : Cease thy prate, man. Be ofif with you all to 
Norwalk. 

Norwalk Men : We'll not ! Be off to Stamford ! We'll slay you 
all in your trespass ! We'll fight for our land ! 

Thomas Fitch: Be quiet! Be quiet! SILENCE! — Did not the 
town order — me to speak and the rest to be silent? 

Ephraim Greggorie : We'll not abide the afifront of these — 

Thomas Fitch : SILENCE ! Flow can I make a good case for the 
law if you persist in your gabble, defying the Town Meeting? 
Let me reason with these Stamford men. 

Jeremy Simkins: Aye! Reason! Reason is better than force. 
Come, men, let us hear reason. 

Stamford Men: The land is ours. That's all there is to it. 

Norwalk Men : 'Tis ours. We bought it from Piamakin. 



24 The Pageant of Dakien. 

Thomas Fitch: Silence! SILENCE! 

Stamford Men: He sold it to us long ago! 

Matthias Richards: Leave it to Piamakin. 

Stamford Men: No! NO! 

Thomas Fitch : That would hardly be safe. There'd be more pres- 
ents. — Friends and neighbors of Stamford and Norwalk, let us 
endeavor to bring this dispute to a loving and neighborly issue. 
You men of Stamford say that Piamakin sold this land to you 
long since. If so, your claim has the dignity of age, though 
harder to prove. We claim that Piamakin sold this land to 
Norwalk — recently. Our claim may have the weakness of youth, 
but it is thereby the easier to prove. Let us not now shed one 
another's blood. Let us refer our grave dispute to the just de- 
cision of the General Court at New Haven. What say you? 
Is it your will? (Pause.) What say you all? 

All, of Both Towns: It is! 

Thomas Fitch : Now, then, as friends and neighbors shall we part. 
Each town appoint four men to plead its cause before the Court. 

Several Stamford Men: But we will get this land! The Court — 
Several Norwalk Men : Tis ours ! The Court will so decide. 
Thomas Fitch : Peace — till we meet before the Court in Nevv^ Haven. 
The Norwalk men go off down to their boats and embark. The 
Stamford men similarly march off to the west, some on each side 
shaking their fists at the other side. As they go, Piamakin and his 
three warriors come out from the woods a little ways. He looks 
after first one party, then the other. 

Piamakin : Good ! It is good ! White man know how fight and 
smoke peace-pipe both same time. White man call it Law. 
Piamakin and his warriors turn and disappear into the woods. 



The Pageant of Darien. 25 



EPISODE 3: THE MILL AT THE LANDING 

(1744) 

George Gorum, the miller, conies out and looks over the water, 
as John Bates, a prosperous farming gentleman of the time, rides in 
on horse-back. Gorum is nodding to himself and rubbing his hands 
with satisfaction. 

John Bates : George Gorum, Captain George Gorum, it is a public 
service that you have rendered by building this mill of yours. 

George Gorum : You tell me so every time you come, John Bates. 

John Bates: I may have mentioned it before. It is worthy of rep- 
etition throughout the colony, sir. (Gorum seems more concerned 
about something on the water and finds the conversation too long.) 
I can now get my corn ground without going on a journey, 
practically at home. I can attend to it when I take my little 
morning canter. 

George Gorum : You have some corn coming to the mill this morning? 

John Bates : I have. It is coming right along. To haul my corn 
those five miles to Stamford town was galling to me, sir. In the 
eye of every one of those people I could see that in their hearts 
they considered Middlesex men as dependent upon them, de- 
pendent upon them, sir. (Bates has a mannerism of going straight 
ahead and then turning back to add another remark.) Middle- 
sex can stand upon her own feet, I say, quite independent of 
Stamford and every other place. We are English, are we not? 

George Gorum : We are. 

John Bates : Fight for the Union Jack and attend to our own afifairs. 
Here comes my corn. Fine corn that, George Gorum. 

A farmer drives in a wagon loaded with corn in bags, coming 
the same way that John Bates had come. Gorum shouts and two of 
his men come out of the mill, and help Bates' man to unload the corn 
and carry it into the mill. Mrs. Gorum also comes out. 



26 The Pageant of Darien. 

John Bates: Good day to you, Mistress Gorum. Look at that corn. 
Is not that as fine corn as you ever saw come to your husband's 
excellent mill? 

Mrs. Gorum : Good day to you, Mr. Bates. That is good corn. 

George Gorum: How will you have it, John Bates? Will you wait 
for the grinding or will you exchange? I have some fine corn 
here ready ground. 

John Bates: Whose corn is it? 

George Gorum : Nathan Weed's, most of it. Some maybe of Joshua 
Hoyt's. 

John Bates: Well, I do not know. One knows his own corn. I 
oversee every bit of the work on my farm myself. 

George Gorum : Yes, John Bates, I know you do. Just as you like. 
It's good corn, new ground, grown on about the same land as 
yours. 

John Bates: Aye, aye! Weed and Hoyt, you say. Alright! It's 
good Middlesex corn. I'll take it. The home product for me. 
Then you know what you are getting. I may want to exchange 
some for imported stuffs. Have you any on hand? That is a 
comely sacque you have on. Mistress Gorum. An India calico, 
I doubt not. 

Mrs. Gorum : Aye, Mr. Bates, a simple thing. 

John Bates : It is a fine quality. My wife will be clamoring for one 
like it. It is great opportunity for exchange you have, George 
Gorum. I say it is a great opportunty you have. Captain George 
Gorum. And through you we have a wee chance now and again 
without interference from the British Ministry. It is a public 
service you — 

George Gorum : Aye, John Bates, you have said so before. 

John Bates: I may have mentioned it before. The British Ministry 
abuse their privilege of office to extract taxes and duties from us 
under guise of statute, meddling with free commerce. I will not 
stand it for one. I am English, myself, I thank God. I will 
fight for the Union Jack, but the British Ministry must not meddle 
with my affairs and try to restrict my free rights. How say you, 
George Gorum? 



The Pageant of Darien. 27 

George Gorum : A)'e, aye. That is what we all believe and practice. 
Mrs. Gorum : Look, look ! What is this ? French prisoners. 
George Gorum : If they stop, see to their wants. 

George Gorum goes hurriedly out. From the wood-road come 
a party of British soldiers with a French officer as prisoner, on horse- 
back. They ride down to the mill. George Gorum comes back quite 
calm. 

British Officer: Good day, my friends. Good day to you, madam. 
Can you not water our horses for us? 

George Gorum : Gladly, gladly. Here, boys. Take the officers' horses 
and water them. 

Mrs. Gorum: And will you not have some refreshment? Some New 
England rum? Or some tea, some Bohea? 

British Officer: I thank you, madam, I will accept. Monsieur, 
will you have some rum? 

French Officer : Merci, monsieur. Mes compliments, madame. 

The officers dismount. Gorum's men lead the horses in back to be 
watered. Some of the others of the escort go also. One or two re- 
main, and Gorum's men bring out water in an old bucket like a firkin 
for the horses. Mrs. Gorum goes into the house and comes out with 
a jug and cups from which she pours rum for the officers. 

John Bates: Any news of the war? Any word from the fleet in 
the West Indies? 

British Officer : None since the taking of Jamaica. 

George Gorum: To New York? 

British Officer : Aye, to New York, for an exchange. I assure 
you, madam, we thank you for your refreshing hospitality. 

French Officer : Merci beaucoup, madame et monsieur. Votre tres — 
British Officer : Advance ! 

The officers mount. The escort come riding out again. The 
party ride on in the direction of Stamford and New York. Meal 
bags are loaded on Bates' cart. 



28 The Pageant of Darien, 

George Gorum : The Frenchman was captured up the Connecticut, 
near Number 4, or somewhere. Got too far from Canada this 
time. 

Mrs. Gorum : Not often we see soldiers in these parts. An event 
to be remembered. 

John Bates: Aye, aye, these are quiet times. Little happens by way 
of excitement except the weekly sermons. 

Mrs. Gorum : The new parson is a fine young man. 

John Bates: Mr. Mather is a man of parts and of scholarship. He 
is our ozvn! In my opinion he is to be compared with George 
Whitefield himself ! 

George Gorum : He is a learned preacher and makes the most of his 
chance. But if things were not so dull, think what he could 
do with a fair sermon of decent length three hours or more, 
as they used to be. 

John Bates: Quiet times let us build up our homes and improve our 
fortunes and give us chance for most excitement where there is 
most danger, in the next world. Now, with our own Middlesex 
church we can consider the perils of hell and the joys of redemp- 
tion in comfort at home. 

Mrs. Gorum : Stamford people will say as long as they live that Mid- 
dlesex separated from the Stamford church from lack of zeal for 
true religion. 

John Bates: Aye, they will. There's my meal. Take it home. 
Good-day ! 

The cart is driven off and John Bates follows. George Gorum 
watches until Bates is gone. He then calls his men to see to the un- 
loading of a ship. 

George Gorum : Now, signal the skipper the bring the stuff ashore. 

Mrs. Gorum: Why did you wait for Mr. Bates to go? 

George Gorum : He's alright, I doubt not, but like as not he would 
have wanted to illustrate the principles of colonial self-govern- 
ment to that British officer by the unloading of this cargo. 



The Pageant of Darien. 29 

Sailors bring boxes and bundles of cargo up along the shore and 
carry them with the assistance of Gorum's men into the mill. The 
skipper directs the work. Once in a while Gorum stops a man to look 
at a chest or bale of goods. 

Sea Captain: What's happening? Anything about the expedition 
to Louisburg? That was in the wind when last I was in Boston. 
Some member of the General Court prayed too loud and let the 
cat out of the bag. 

George Gorum : Oh, we're going against Louisburg. That's settled. 
Connecticut and New Hampshire are joining Massachusetts on 
it. Connecticut is to have the second place in command. Roger 
Wolcott is to be major-general. 

Sea Captain : Any going from here ? 

George Gorum : Yes, quite a number are going from here and from 
Stamford. Want a little excitement; want a change. Try a 
little fighting against the French. They don't come here any more, 
so we'll go chase the rats in their own forts. 

Sea Captain : Drilling a lot nowadays, then, I suppose. 

George Gorum : Aye, that they are, every week, sometimes oftener. 
Come in, Captain, and we'll reckon this up and settle. What do 
you want this trip? I have fine salt meat on hand, rum a-plenty, 
and wheat, oats and corn. 

Sea Captain : Well, let's look the stuff over. 

The two men go in. Mrs. Gorum goes in with her husband. 
Gorum's mill hands and the sailors have already gone in with the last 
of the cargo. 



The Pageant of Darien. 31 



INTERLUDE I: THE CHANGING TIDE 

The Interlude begins with smoothly-flowing music, ever advanc- 
ing and receding, in the violins. From the water comes the Spirit 
of the Tide, the Changing Tide, periodically changing herself and 
changing all things. Her color is chiefly a greenish blue, the color of 
shallow sea-water. Following her come a body of Water Spirits 
flowing up over the shore and up the land in obedience to the Tide. 
She beckons, lures, guides them in over the land. In front flow little 
ones in pale green, rippling along in advance of the larger older ones 
in sea blue, with here and there for the deeper water a touch of 
sea green. The Tide leads and guides them in over the lower stretches 
and on up the slope, herself always at the highest point, where she 
triumphs over her achievement as the Water Spirits dance in homage 
before her and about her. Then almost at the same time, come from 
the woods at the back and from among the trees on the hill-side 
Forest Spirits, in dark greens and browns. As they approach the 
Tide is in ecstasy, joying in her power over the land and the water. 

Then from her triumph she turns in haughtiness from them, bids 
them all begone, sends them back to the deeps and to the forests. 
Reluctantly the Water Spirits depart, receding as they had come, 
she remaining alone at the highest point of her rise. The Forest 
Spirits, however, do not retire altogether, but only into the edge of 
the woods, whence and whither through the interlude they come and 
go. At last, when the Water Spirits have gone quite far, the Tide 
relents. She yearns for them, and as they vanish she stretches forth 
her arms to them and bids them return. Again, at the bidding of 
the Tide, the waters return. This flowing and ebbing of the tide 
continues through the Interlude. 



32 The Pageant of Darien. 



The next time, Indians come out with the Forest Spirits and 
dominate the slope of the land, laughing defiantly as the water washes 
up about them. In the orchestra Indian music weaves in with the 
flowing music of the tide. But when the Tide changes, she bids the 
Indians too begone and they too have to depart, wonderingly, lament- 
ingly going down the hill and out to the west. 

Next Colonists come with the Forest Spirits, simple, rugged and 
self-reliant, full of affairs, devoted to Great Britain, whose banner 
one of them bears, and hostile to France, one of whose blue-uni- 
formed soldiers they have as a prisoner. The music brings fleeting 
snatches of The British Grenadier. But they, too, pass on, with the 
ebbing of their flood-tide, at the beck of the Changeful Spirit that 
controls the waters of time. 

As the the Colonists depart, Americans of the Revolutionary 
and Early National period come in their turn. They have the Ameri- 
can flag in its earliest form among them. For them as for all the others, 
the Forest Spirits form a framing background. Their music is sug- 
gestive of Yankee Doodle and other early American airs. As their 
tide ebbs, the Spirit of the Tide goes much farther down toward the 
shore with the Water Spirits than before. 

People of about 1830 are the next to come. They do not go up so 
far towards the woods as the others. They are people of accustomed 
manner, matter-of-fact, and even a bit worldly in their picturesque 
way. They are quite unconscious of the Tide that has called them on 
and that will send them hence. The music is appropriate to the 
period, somewhat formal and sentimental. Then from out of the 
woods comes a single, solitary Indian. He comes but a few steps out 
from the shelter of the forest and stands with hands uplifted as in 
communion with the Great Spirit. He ignores or does not see the 
people of 1830 below him. These, startled, some of them frightened, 
draw back and watch him. The Indian turns to the north, to the east, 
to the south, and then to the west, as in prayer, singing an Indian chant, 
at first low and then rising into a song full of triumphant pathos : 



The Pageant of Darien. 33 



THE INDIAN'S CHANT 

Oh Father, Great Spirit, Waukaumauw, 
Here are the graves of my fathers ! 
Here in these forests they hunted, 
Brought up their young by these waters! 
Here is the home of my fathers ! 
Here dwell their spirits forever. 
This is my home, Oh, Great Spirit, 
For this is the home of my fathers ! 

Gone are they, — gone from these forests, 
As foot-prints washed out by the waters 
As red and brown leaves of the autum.n ; 
And gone are all who came after. 
But they shall return, Oh Great Spirit ! 
Again Thou wilt bring back Thy children ! 
They shall hunt here and dwell here forever. 
For this is the home of my fathers ! 

The waters advance, Oh Waukaumauw ! 
And now I depart, like my fathers, 
And no man shall know where I go to, 
Till Thou, Oh Great Father, Waukaumauw, 
Call me back to the Home of my fathers ! 

The Indian turns., plunges into the woods and is lost. The people 
of 1830, still gazing in amazement and awe at the place where he had 
been, retire, not knowing why, out the same way the others had gone. 
The Forest Spirits retire into the woods. Again for the last time the 
Tide with her Water Spirits flows up over an empty field and recedes 
out to the sea whence she came. 



The Pageant of Darien. 35 



EPISODE 4: THE RAID ON THE MIDDLESEX CHURCH 

(1781) 

Several row-boats come quietly in and beach. British soldiers and 
Tories get cautiously out. While some are hiding the boats, others 
make a reconnaisance, first Rowland Slawson and some of the Tories 
going forward, and then a few soldiers under Captain Frost joining 
them. Daniel Gorham comes sauntering up from his house and mill, 
surprising a British soldier and himself a bit taken unaware. 

Soldier: Hold up your hands and be silent, or I'll blow your head 
off. 

Daniel Gorham : I'm alright, my friend. 

Rowland Slawson : He's a friend and to be trusted. 

Daniel Gorham (to Captain Frost, who comes up) : The rebels will 
be coming to church soon, — to pray God to dismember the British 
empire, to loose anarchy among the colonies, and to expose us 
and our homes to the French and Indians again. Damn them ! 
Hide back there in the swamp, until they are all in church and 
you will bag the lot without any trouble, the pestiferous old par- 
son and all. Property would be safe without the King's power 
back of the laws, wouldn't it? 

Capt. Frost : It's not long till they come for the afternoon sermon ? 

Daniel Gorham : No. You'll hear the drum summoning them soon. 
Wait till they are singing a hymn. Then you can come up and 
surround the church without being heard. Cocks and hens ! You'll 
get a fine flock of them ! You'll pick up some nice horseflesh too 
this afternoon, or I'm mistaken. — Well, I'll not be around. 

Daniel Gorham saunters off again the way he came. Capt. Frost 
beckons his men back to the boats and around behind the point. 

Capt. Frost (to a sergeant and a Tory) : Remind all the men not 
to shoot if they can help it. Warn them that three shots is the 
general alarm here. We don't want the whole country-side down 



36 The Pageant of Darien. 

upon us. (To another Tory.) Here, you, get up in there some- 
where, damn you, and tell us when you see the first of the rebels 
coming. Keep where I can see you, and when you come back, 
get around through the woods. 

The man designated goes up on the rise to the west and keeps a 
sharp look out. All the others return to the boats and disappear around 
the point. Only Capt. Frost's red uniform is seen once in a while 
as he looks up over the bank to sign to the Tory look-out. Finally 
the Tory points, runs down across to the woods, plunges in and emerges 
down on the shore near the boats. He speaks to Capt. Frost and both 
disappear. From the west where the Tory was pointing come the 
people of Middlesex parish on their way to church. The first carries 
a drum, which, as soon as he reaches the wood-road, he begins to 
beat. Some are on foot ; some are on horse-back ; some carry their 
wives or daughters a-pillion. Some also come from other directions. 

Gershom Scofield: Well, Deacon, the British have been keeping 
away for some time now since they got the treasure from your 
house. Three months now, is it? 

Deacon Joseph Mather: Aye, they'll not be around again for a while. 
Major Tallmadge and Ebenezer Jones with his Boat Service have 
taught them a lesson. 

Gershom Scofield: They have truly. 

Eliphalet Seely : I am not so sure. I have been sleeping in a thicket 
of bushes below my garden, so they should not take me if they 
came to my house at night. 

Deacon Joseph Mather: Better not talk so loud. No telling who 
might not have Tory inclinations and be in hearing. 

Gershom Scofield: The Cow Boys — I'd like to see them extermin- 
ated. 

Mrs. Joshua Morehouse: It was a great sermon the parson gave 
us this morning! 

Eliphalet Seely : The boot-heel did famous work on the study 
floor while he wrote that sermon, I warrant you. 



The Pageant of Darien. 37 

Gershom Scofield : And he'll give us another sermon like it this 
afternoon ! He's a staunch champion of freedom and the truth ! 

Mrs. Joshua Morehouse: His doctrine is soundly based on the 
Scriptures and the Declaration of Independence. 

Rev. Moses Mather comes in with his wife and several of his 
children. He carries his Bible under his arm. As he passes through, 
the people all bow to him. He graciously returns the salutations. 
Mrs. Joshua Morehouse: Will you give us as stirring a sermon this 

evening as this morning, Mr. Mather? 

Rev. Moses Mather: I know not, but I will preach the Word of 
the Lord as I understand it. The text this afternoon is from 
Timothy, "Quit you like men ; be strong,'' and again from He- 
brews, "And so much the more as ye see the day approaching." 

From the wood-road comes the drummer again. He stands at 
the edge of the woods and beats the call a second time. Those who 
have horses tie them at the wall, and all go through the road to the 
church. Rowland Slawson is seen peeking out over the wall to see if 
all have gone in. He then comes out affecting a careless mein. Capt. 
Frost watches him. He evidently does not trust him completely, and 
when Slawson is going too near to the church, he calls and beckons 
him back. He then summons his men. Inside the church, in the 
woods, the congregation are heard singing the hymn 

NORWALK 
By Mather 

All yesterday is gone ! 

To-morrow's not our own; 
O sinner, come without delay 

To bow before the throne. 

(The Ancient Lyre, p. 188) 

Capt. Frost gets over the wall cautiously and listens. He beckons 
his men to follow. They jump over the wall and run after him up 
the hill. When they are half way up, Isaac Richards appears at the end 
of the wood-road and shouts back a warning. He himself then runs 



38 The Pageant of Darien. 

up the hill and escapes. The British spread out to surround the church 
and go into the woods, leaving a soldier on guard at the road. The 
singing of the hymn stops abruptly. There is noise of great con- 
fusion and of sharp commands. Two young men, Nathan Weed and 
Noyes Mather, the parson's son, dart out of the woods trying to escape. 
A Tory is in pursuit. The British soldier on guard draws his gun to 
his shoulder and fires. Young Mather drops to his knees. 
Nathan Weed : Are you hit ? 
Noyes Mather: In the heel. But I can run. 

He gets up with Weed's assistance and they disappear into the 
woods. The Tory also fires a pistol without success. He draws an- 
other pistol and is about to fire again, but the soldier stops him. 
Soldier: Hold! Three shots is the alarm. 

Some of the Tories and a few of the soldiers come out and 
begin to lead oflf the horses with much coarse joking over the fine 
prizes that have fallen into their hands. From the wood-road now 
come the British with their prisoners. Capt. Frost is in command. 
By his side and at the head of the line comes the Rev. Moses Mather, 
bare-headed, his hands tied with rope behind his back. Capt. Frost 
is in quite jocular mood over his success in capturing the rebel parson 
of Middlesex. The men of the congregation are marched out two and 
two, tied together with cords by the arms. The women and some of 
the children are trying to reach their husbands and fathers, but are 
roughly kept back by the soldiers at the point of the bayonet. One of 
the women, Sally Dibble, is wounded and her dress is torn. Capt. 
Frost designates three soldiers and sends them back. 
Capt. Frost : Go back and see if anything is overlooked. 

They return to make their search. Capt. Frost marches his com- 
mand and prisoners down to the shore, where some of them, including 
the Rev. Moses Mather, are put into boats and rowed away, while 
the rest with the horses are taken farther ofif along the shore. 

Three shots are heard in rapid succession in the woods, the noted 
signal for the general alarm. The three British soldiers come running 



The Pageant of Darien. 39 



out of the wood-road. There is a fourth shot. One of the soldiers 
drops. The other two run down to the shore and disappear. The 
wounded soldier picks himself up and tries to follow. He cannot, 
so tries to gain temporary cover in the trees. Daniel Gorham comes out 
cautiously. 

Daniel Gorham : Quick, friend. Get down to my mill and hide 
among the grain bags. I'll see that you are safe. 

Danial Gorham helps the British soldier out as fast as he can 
go in the direction of the mill. They have hardly disappeared when 
a number of Americans come running out of the wood-road in pur- 
suit of the British and Tories and their prisoners. They run down to 
the shore and ofif in the direction the enemy have gone. 



The Pageant of Darien. 41 



EPISODE 5: THE TOWN OF DARIEN 

(1820) 

Several men of the time come out and begin to pitch horse-shoes, 
or to watch. A couple of old men bring out from the store a bench 
and stool and a keg, also a checker-board. They get the checker- 
board on the keg between them and begin their game. A market man 
from New Canaan drives down across the field. His wagon is loaded 
with country produce and a pair of calves are led behind. 
Market Man: Nothing seen of the packet yet? 

Store Man : Don't know's there has. Wind seems to set right out 
in the Sound, though. It ought to get in pretty soon, — some time 
this afternoon anyway. 

Market Man : Anything heard about the Town question ? Have 
they settled it up at New Haven yet? 

Farmer: Believe they have. Thaddeus Bell was up there, and he 
sent word they voted the charter to the town and he'll be along 
with it as soon as it's made out. 

Market Man : What you going to call it? Bellville? 

Store Man : No. There was some wanted to call it Bellville, and 
some that wanted to call it after another family. Isaac Weed, 
captain of this packet, — he's been down on the coast trade, you 
know, — and he told them they ought to call it Darien, because 
it was a small neck of a town that didn't do much but connect 
two other bigger towns. 

Market Man (laughing) : Well, well, so they're going to call it after 
the Isthmus of Darien, eh? 

Farmer: Guess so, Thaddeus Bell, he's doing more about it than 
anyone else, and he says that would be a pretty good name, be- 
cause what would those two big towns do without this little one 
between them he didn't know. 



42 The Pageant of Darien. 



Cheers are heard up in the direction of the King's Highway. 
Thaddeus Bell rides in on horseback, accompanied by other people, both 
men and women on foot. He is travel-stained and bespattered with 
mud. The people waiting for the packet get up at his approach. His 
wife comes forward to greet him. He dismounts and greets his wife. 
Dr. Warren Percival comes in. 
Dr. Percival: How is it, Bell? What about the town? 

Th.\ddeus Bell : Middlesex is now a town, the Town of Darien, Con- 
necticut ! I have the charter in my saddle-bags. 

Cheers. Other people come in. Thaddeus Bell hunts in his sad- 
dle-bags and produces a large official-looking document which he holds 
up for all to see. 

Thaddeus Bell : Here is the charter ! It is dated the first Wednesday 
in May, 1820. It finds that the facts in cur petition to the General 
Assembly are true and grants our Prayer to be incorporated into 
a separate Town. It provides for the first Town-Meeting as 
follows : "The first Town Meeting in said Town of Darien shall 
be holden at the Presbyterian Meeting House in said Town of 
Darien on the second Monday in June, A. D. 1820, and Thad- 
deus Bell, Esq. shall be Moderator thereof and shall warn said 
meeting by setting up a Notification thereof on the public sign- 
post in said town and at such other public places as he may deem 
proper. (Cheers.) 

Dr. Percival : And Thaddeus Bell shall be elected the first Select Man ! 

Others: That he shall! (Cheers.) 

Thaddeus Bell: No, I will not accept it. I have done what I have 
simply for the benefit of my neighbors here at home, not with any 
desire for public office. Even if elected, I shall not accept. 

Dr. Percival: Well, John Bell, then. We'll have someone of the 
family on the first Board of Select Men. 

Another Man: John Weed would make a good Select Man, too. — 
young John. 

Others : Aye, young John Weed, we'll vote for him. 

Third Man : And Henrv Bates. 



The Pageant of Darien. 43 



Market Man: Here comes the packet! (Cheers.) 

On the inlet the sloop "Union" moves up to the landing. The 
skipper, Captain Isaac Weed, comes ashore. With him is a stranger. 
Renewed cheers. 

Isaac Weed: Well, neighbors, quite a welcome. What's up? I have 
done all your commissions, and report the "Union," of Stamford, 
safe in port at Ring's End Landing ! 

Crowd: No! No! Darien! 

Thaddeus Bell: No longer the "Union" of Stamford, but the 
"Union" of Darien ! Middlesex is now an independent town of 
Connecticut under the name of Darien. 

Cheers in which Captain Weed and his crew join. Captain Weed 
takes the stranger over to Thaddeus Bell. 

Noah Brown : Thaddeus Bell ! I should know you anywhere. Do 
you remember me? I lived here when I was a boy of 15. My 
name is Noah Brown. 

Thaddeus Bell : Noah Brown ! Well, well ! Neighbors, here is 
one of our old boys back again among us, Noah Brown, the man 
who built Commodore Perry's victorious fleet in Lake Erie seven 
years ago. (Cheers.) 

Isaac Weed: Mr. Brown, I want you to build a boat for me. And 
neighbors, I'll call it the Noah Brown of Darien. (Laughs and 
cheers.) 

Thaddeus Bell : Now I will post this warning for the meeting here 
on the Landing. 

Thaddeus Bell, accompanied by Noah Brown and a few others, 
go out to post the warning for the Town Meeting. 

Isaac Weed: Get the goods ashore, men. Here, Jonas, (to the 
farmer) here is the money for your hay, $24. 

Farmer: $24? There is some mistake. 

Isaac Weed: No. You had just two tons. I got $12 a ton for you. 

Farmer : $12 a ton ! That is too much ! Take it back. It would not 
be right for me to take it. Here ! 



44 The Pageant of Darien. 

Isaac Weed: Why, Jonas, man, of course it is right. That is what 
hay brings now. Besides I do not know who I sold it to. All 
I know is I sold it for $24 and the money is yours. 

One Man : Now at last we can have a good road put through our 
town. We won't be at the mercy of the people of Stamford. 

Another: Quite right! The town ought to employ a man to work 
on the road at once. He should be expected to give all his time 
to it. 

One Man : That would cost a good deal of money, — all his time. 

Another: That makes no difference. The town should put a man 
with team, cart, chain and everything to work at once. I shall 
move it in the first Town Meeting. The town ought to pay him 
$2 a day. It should vote a Highway Tax of 2c on the dollar. 

One Man: That is extravagance. I shall vote against it. All his 
time ! $2 a day ! 

Another: He supplies his team, cart and everything himself. The 
town will vote it, too. You see. 

One Man : Man, $2 a day. Do you realize that would be $600 a 
year! If the town does vote it this year, it will not next year. I 
will see to that. 

Another: It will the year after then. 

One Man : We'll see ! Such extravagance. Let each man take care 
of his own road. 

A small boy comes down with an ox-cart loaded with straw. It 
is brought down to the landing and the straw is put aboard, the ox- 
team turned around and the boy started off again. The freight taken 
off consists of groceries, dry goods and hardware, molasses, sugar 
and flour. The new cargo for New York consists of country produce, 
potatoes, onions, turnips, hay, straw, calves and poultry. Meantime 
Thaddeus Bell returns. 

A poor woman goes up to Thaddeus Bell anxiously and waits 
until she can attract bis attention. 



The Pageant of Darien. 45 

Charity Tubes : Oh, Mr. Bell, Mr. Bell, what will happen to us 
Town Poor? If we are not to belong to Stamford any more, who 
will take care of us? 

Mrs. Bell : You'll be taken care of. Charity. 

Thaddeus Bell: Do not give yourself any worry about it. Charity. 
The Select Men of Stamford and our Select Men, as soon as they 
are elected, will meet and decide which ones of you poor people 
Stamford shall keep and which ones Darien shall take care of. 
You will be alright. Darien must have its share of the Western 
Reserve Fund, too. 

One Man: How much will that amount to, Mr. Bell? 

Thaddeus Bell : Darien's share would probably amount to as much 
as $3,000. (Cheers.) That will go to the Darien School Fund. 
(Cheers.) 

Third Man : Well, one improvement we need is to put some restric- 
tion on the pigs. They root everything up. 

Fourth Man : Yes, I do not know but there should. Wire them ; 
that's what they do everywhere. You draw up the words for it 
and I will second it in the Town Meeting. 

Third Man: "Pigs eight weeks old well wired to be free commoners," 
— that is all you need. Fll move that and you second it. 

Old Man: You ought to do something to regulate the catching of 
oysters, too. When I was a boy, you could take oysters anywhere 
along the shore here a foot long. Yes sir, and lobsters — I've seen 
lobsters six feet long. But they are all gone now. The drags 
have driven them away, frightened them. 

Isaac Weed: All aboard! Any passengers for New York? Any 
other commissions? All aboard! The "Union" of Darien, 
(cheers) Isaac Weed, Master, for Peck's Slip, New York! 

The sloop moves out into the inlet and sails for the Sound. The 
people go off with their groceries or other goods, their teams or on 
foot. The market man from New Canaan drives off with his return 
load. Meantime the old men have resumed their game of checkers 
and the younger men their pitching horse-shoes. As the last of the 
people are leaving, their games are finished and they get up and go 
oft" also. 



The Pageant of Darien. 47 



EPISODE 6: THE COMING OF THE RAILROAD 

(1849) 

The Proprietor of Scofield's Inn and a traveler with his luggage 
come out waiting for the stage-coach. The stage-coach comes along 
the wood-road, horn blowing and whip cracking, well loaded with pas- 
sengers. 

Inn-keeper : Here you are ! Here is the stage-coach. You might 
have a chance to go by the first railroad train if you care to 
chance it. 

Traveler : No, no I must get to New York as quick as I can. And 
I want to get back. I am not anxious to try any dangerous experi- 
ments. 

Inn-keeper : There is no real danger going by the railroad. They are 
reliable and prominent people back of it putting it through. 

Traveler: No, sir, I have heard all about it. That bridge at Cos 
Cob — for the sake of going through by Christmas Day, they are 
going to risk passing over that bridge before it is more than half 
finished. I heard about it. 

The stage-coach drives up. A few people get out and look around. 
Horses are changed. A few people come to take the stage and with 
the other traveler see the driver about seats. 

Stage-driver : Stage for Stamford ! Connects by the new arrange- 
ment with the Harlem Railroad at White Plains for New York! 
Only safe way to New York ! 
Nathaniel Weed comes driving in at a fast pace. 

Inn-keeper : Got the stage easily this time, Mr. Weed. Never missed 
it, have you? 

Nathaniel Weed : Never, sir, never ! Never have and never will, 
if I have to leave the horse dead on the road. 

Traveler: Excuse me the liberty of a question, sir! You make a 
practise of — 



48 The Pageant of Darien. 

Nathaniel Weed : Yes sir. For years and years I have gone to New 
York every other day. I used to go by boat, driving down to catch 
the steamer. Then lately I have gone to White Plains and taken 
the railroad train there. When the railroad goes through from 
here I shall go that way. 

Inn-keeper: They say the railroad train is to go through for the first 
time to-day, Mr. Weed. 

Nathaniel Weed : To-day ! To-day ! How does it happen I did not 
know of it. I will go by train to-day then ! I shall not want my 
seat with you, Lewis. What time is it expected the train will 
go through ? 

By-stander : I heard sometime early this afternoon was probable. 

Traveler: Really I doubt the feasibility of this railroad. It cannot 
pay. 

Nathaniel Weed : Why, do you know, sir, the Housatonic Railroad 
increased its earnings from passengers alone this year nearly 
$1,400 over last year! 

Traveler: Are you certain that the figures are authentic? Is the 
source of your information incontrovertible? 

Nathaniel Weed : Yes, sir ! Yes, sir ! There is more money in rail- 
roads than in any opportunity before the public for investment at 
the present time. 

Traveler : Not more than in gold ! The new discoveries in California. 

Nathaniel Weed : I mean it sir, even more, far more than in gold. 
People are going across the continent without number. But it will 
cost heavily, though much good may come of the movement. But 
there is dire suffering and loss in store for most of them. 

Traveler : You think so ? There are not many of your opinion. You 
see people starting out for the gold-fields every day in wagon and 
— anything. 

Nathaniel Weed: Yes, sir, that is my opinion as a banker. There 
go some more enthusiastic folk chasing the golden gleam. 

A wagon fixed up as a prairie wagon passes across from the 
wood-road and out toward the west. 



The Pageant of Darien. 49 

Stage-driver : Now, ladies and gentlemen ! All aboard ! Stage for 
Stamford ! Connects for White Plains and New York by rail- 
road ! 

All hurriedly climb into the stage coach or up on top of it. The 
driver climbs up to his seat and whips up his horses. The stage-coach 
goes off in the same direction that the prairie wagon had gone. 

Nathaniel Weed : It will mean everything for us when this rail- 
road is running through regularly every day, — three, four times 
every day. We shall then practically live in New York, so far 
as having all the industrial advantages of the city is concerned. 
Darien, Noroton, Stamford, will all become cities without ceas- 
ing to be country villages. Work in the city with home in the 
country. That is what I have always been determined I should 
have. 

Inn-keeper: Yes, sir. You have spent many an hour traveling back 
and forth to New York all your life, Mr. Weed. 

Nathaniel Weed: It is good for one. The jolting along the roads 
is good for the circulation, keeps the blood moving, sir. 

Inn-keeper: You think we can hear the train from here, Mr. Weed? 

Nathaniel Weed : Yes, indeed ! You can hear it from here easily 
enough. The whistle of a railroad locomotive makes a great noise. 

By-stander: Can you see it from here? 

Nathaniel W^eed: Well, hardly. It goes up there, about — Maybe 
you might see it, but I guess not. I must go along if I am going 
to catch it. There it is now ! 

The whistle of the first train is heard up the inlet. Mr. Weed 
jumps into his buggy and drives off as fast as he can go through the 
wood-road. There is great excitement among all the by-standers, who 
start forward and gather in groups trying to see it. 

By-stander: I see it! I see it! 
Others: Where? Where? 



50 The Pageant of Darien. 

By-stander : There ! No, — no ! 

Another By-stander : I am going to the station ! 

Others : To the station ! To the station ! 

All break into a run and hurry off after Mr. Weed's buggy up the 
wood-road to see the first train at the station. 



The Pageant of Darien. 51 



INTERLUDE II: PRINCIPLE 

(1861-1865) 

From the two sides of the field come the various members of a 
family of the time of the Civil War, the grandparents, young people, 
children, uncles and aunts and cousins, about twenty in all. They are 
engaged in the pleasant social and family interests of the time. Be- 
hind them, from the wood-road, comes the austere figure of Principle, 
clothed in a long cloak of purple and crimson and an under robe of blue, 
quiet and serious in manner. She bears in her hand a palm branch. 
She approaches the pleasant group and stands silently behind them 
but does not obtrude herself upon them. The older persons realize 
her presence, but the young people and the children are entirely un- 
conscious of her. The music is suggestive of the simple, genial life 
before the Civil War, whether north or south. 

In the music is heard the forebodings of war, the rumble of 
drums, the flashes of elemental passions, the appeal to the last resort. 
The face of Principle becomes stern. Her figure seems to rise to its 
full erect height. Intense and inflexible she listens. In the music is 
reflected the noise of battle, the peals of the trumpets calling to the 
charge, the clash of conflict, and the boom of distant cannon. The 
family becomes quiet, listening impressed with the awe of the sounds, 
but not comprehending. The grandfather points to the figure of Prin- 
ciple. One young man, and then one or two others, also gaze trans- 
fixed at her as she raises her arm slowly in irrevocable command. She 
points them forth to go to war. The music continues, more and more 
blaring forth the uncontrollable furies of war. The whole being of 
Principle through every nerve and drop of blood responds to the 
music, from a suppressed intensity of excitement working up to a 
veritable fanatic frenzy as with cruel relentless implacability in a 
pyrrhic dance of tremendous emotional sweep she orders the young 



52 The Pageant of Darien. 

men along the way of sacrifice and death. The mothers and young 
wives implore her with tears and on their knees to spare them. She 
is inflexible. Suddenly rising through her frenzy to the still inscruta- 
bility of Fate, motionless she points the young men forth. As if fas- 
cinated in an unreasoning loyality to her, heroically they go forth the 
way she points. The women sink about her, their hearts wrung but 
accepting her decrees. The older men bow their heads in resignation. 

The battle rages in the music. The women rise from their knees 
and listen in speechless terror to the sound. Gradually the music 
quiets down to the dull monotonous boom of the cannon, which changes 
into a dirge. From the direction whither the young men went, come 
four soldiers bearing on a stretcher made from their rifles and a 
military overcoat, the body of a soldier. Slowly they carry him 
up before the family group, or what remains of the family, and be- 
fore the statue-like figure of Principle. The family kneel. As the 
soldiers are carrying the dead by her, she puts forth a hand and stops 
them. She lays her palm-branch upon the breast of the soldier and 
raises her hand in blessing over him. The soldiers carry their burden 
out at the other side. 

The mother of the dead and the other young women of the family 
on their knees are crushed with grief. In her distress the mother feels 
the strong but tender hand of Principle on her shoulder. With utter 
tenderness she lifts the mother up and comforts her. She calls to her 
the little wondering children, caresses them, and calls the attention of 
the mother and of the other women to them and fixes their sorrow- 
ing minds on them and on the future. Then placing the hand of the 
mother in that of her husband she points them forth upon their way, 
and the others of the family unth them, in the opposite direction from 
that whither the soldiers have gone. Standing alone she watches 
them depart, until just before they disappear she stretches forth her 
hand in tenderest sympathy toward them. Then she turns and directly 
disappears into the woods. 



The Pageant of Darien. 53 



EPISODE 7: JUST HOME 

(1885) 

An old lady comes walking in with her son, a young man of about 
twenty-eight, alert and sturdy. 

Richard: Now, mother, you talk to father, won't you, and make 
him feel alright about my going to New York, instead of keeping 
on with the place? 

Mother: Well, Richard, I will see what I can do. I suppose you 
must go your own way. But it will be very hard for your father. 

Richard: Why, no it won't, mother. I shall be making lots of money 
very soon in this, and Edward and I will always do everything 
to make you and father — more than comfortable. You know that. 

Mother : Yes, Richard, I know that, dear ! That is not what I meant. 
But your father has struggled hard and long, — with his wound 
in the Civil War and all, — to keep this place together so he could 
hand it on to you boys. 

Richard : But we can do better, going to the city. 

Mother : Ours is an old family, one of the oldest in Darien, and this 
place has been in the family straight through from the first for 
over 200 years. To your father the living people of a family are 
sort of trustees for the other generations, and it is a sacred trust 
from the past to hand on the old family home undiminished to 
the future generations. Here are the family graves for years 
and years back. Here your father hopes the family name will 
continue forever. Don't you understand? 

Richard: Yes, mother, but— 

Mother: If you could only wait a while, until your father and I have 
passed on, you could do as you like. 

The father and older son, Edward, are seen coming. The father 
is quite old and walks heavil}^ on a cane. 



54 The Pageant of Darien. 

Richard: But it will be a long time before that, mother dear. I 
do not want to be a farmer. What else could I do on this big 
place? I want to be getting a start, and — I want to get married. 

Mother : Yes, my boy, I know you do, dear ; and I want you to. The 
old must make way for the young. 

Richard : Don't put it that way, mother ! 

Mother : No, I did not mean that. Let me put it this way : the old 
must help the young to make their way. 

As the father and Edward come up, a carriage drives up in which 
are a lady and gentleman with two children. They are well dressed, 
elegantly but simply, and are kindly and gracious in manner. 

New Yorker: Can you tell me where I will find the place of Mr. 
Livingston Brown? 

Father: He's the man that bought the old Denton place, isn't he? 

New Yorker: I do not know about that. He moved out here only 
a short time ago. 

Father: Yes, he bought the old Denton place. You go down there 
across the bridge and turn to the right. 

New Yorker : About how far is it ? 

Father: Oh, only about a quarter of a mile. 

New Yorker: Thank you, sir. 

Father: You're very welcome. 

They drive on, but stop a short ways along and consult with each 
other, evidently considering if these be not the people of whom they 
have heard. 

Father : Well, Richard, Edward tells me you are bent upon following 
him to New York. I had hoped it was only a passing fancy, as 
is natural with young men, — I have been young myself. All I 
can say is I am keenly disappointed. I had thought I could count 
on you. Edward went. What we can do — to take care of the 
old place — I do not know. 

The New York people turn around and drive back to them. 



The Pageant of Darien. 55 



New Yorker : You do not happen to know of anyone here who wants 
to sell his place, do you? 

Father: No, I do not. 

New Yorker: We were looking for a place in the country and Mr. 
Brown told me there was a place near his that he had heard maybe 
the people might sell. 

The sons look at each other significantly. 

Father : No, I do not. 

The Wife of the New Yorker : It was just about a quarter of a mile 
from Mr. Brown's, he said. That is why we thought — 

The father is resolute in his attitude. The sons cannot say any 
thing. That something is the matter is evident. It is rather embar- 
rassing all around. 

The Wife of the New Yorker: Would we not better go on, Henry? 
New Yorker : Well — I did not want to bother you — I thank you, sir. 
Mother: John, it is our place they have heard about. 
Father : Maybe it is. 

The people linger. 
New Yorker: If I am not intruding, — would you consider — 

The father stands motionless and wordless. 

Mother: We might as well face the situation, John. Make an ap- 
pointment to talk with him at least. 

Father: It is not your family, Martha; that is why — 

Mother : John, John, you do not mean that ! 

Father: No, Martha, I do not. 

Silence. The father turns to the New Yorker as if to speak, but 
says nothing. The wife of the New Yorker tries to relieve the situa- 
tion by turning to talk to the mother. 

The Wife of the New Yorker : It is a very beautiful place you have 

here. You must be very fond of it. 
Mother : Yes, we are. It has been in the family for over 200 years. 



56 The Pageant of Darien. 

The Wife of the New Yorker: Isn't that interesting! 

Father: I will consider — it. I will talk with you about it, — or my 
son will, — another day. 

New Yorker: Very well sir, any time that would be convenient to 
you I shall be glad to take the matter up with you, either here or 
in New York. 

The Wife of the New Yorker: Oh, we should be so delighted if 
we could have the place! (Her husband nudges her) — rent it 
from you for a few years, or something. We should appreciate 
all the old associations, I assure you. It is charming, the view 
over the water, and all. The Browns have told us a good deal 
about the beauty of the location. I should just love to put a per- 
gola on the end toward the water. Don't you think it would be 
lovely, Mrs. I do not know your name. 

Mother : Well, we like it as it is, naturally. 

The mother has during these remarks assented with kindly smiles. 
Edward meantime has been talking with the New Yorker. The father 
stands absorbed in contemplation. 

New Yorker: Well, Sallie, — we will go on. Here is my card. (Giv- 
ing card to Edward, who gives his in return.) Good-day, sir! 
Good-day ! 

Others : Good-day ! 

The New Yorkers drive ahead and out toward the bridge. There 
is quiet for some moments. The mother stretches out her hand to 
her husband. 

Mother: Every generation in a family the blood is half of it new, 
John. And every generation there are new interests and new di- 
rections in the family life. 

Father : Yes. 

Mother: There are not many families that stay so long, father and 
son, in one place as your family has, John, and these are days 
of change. 

Father: The more reason why the few old families should hold on. 
The old families are the conservative back-bone of the nation. 



The Pageant of Darien. 57 

Mother : Yes, yes. But, John, there were some who thought we were 
uprooting all the traditions of the past when we were married 
and started out in our own way, even if we did not want to move 
away from the old place. And you, John, — you — 

Father : Yes, I insisted on changing the shipping of all the farm prod- 
uce from the packet boats to the railroad. 

Mother : Yes, John, you were a red flagged radical. And you would 
have your way. 

Father : But that was the simplest common sense. It is absurd. The 
event has proven — business must follow business. 

Mother : Yes, John, and our boys must follow business. And we 
must start out afresh with them, even if our bones are a little stiff. 

Father : Martha, you always do as you please with me ! 

Mother: And am I wrong? 

Father : Edward, you see what we would best do. You arrange it. 

Edward: Alright, Father. 

Richard : And we will build a new house nearer the village for you 
two old dears. Edward and his family will move out from the 
city. He and I will commute. And we will have our three homes 
near together. Everything will be just as beautiful and comfort- 
able as it can be made. You will be much more comfortable, 
after }^ou are once used to it, and^ — 

Mother : Yes, dear, I know. It will be very nice, but do not say any- 
thing more about it now. (With a motion of her head toward her 
husband.) You see, to your father and me it is not altogether 
old by-gone traditions. To us the old place is — just home. 

Richard bows his head and is quiet. The mother goes over to 
her husband and together the old people walk out, Edward and Richard 
following them. 



The Pageant of Darien. 59 



EPISODE 8: A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY 

(1900) 

A voice is heard over the hill calling "Fore!" A golf ball drops 
on the grounds. Another voice is heard calling "Fore !" and another 
ball drops on the grounds. Soon after some golfers come following 
their ball ; and some friends watching their game. 

First Golfer : You have to get pretty well up the hill here for a good 
lie to make the next shot. 

Second Golfer : Well, let's see what you can do. Fore ! 

They play off across the field and go off in that direction. Other 
groups of golfers follow at intervals. A group of young people come 
in on their way to play tennis. Then another group go through on their 
way swimming. They call to some of the tennis-players to come on 
and go swimming with them. 
Swimmer: Come on, come on and go swimming! The tide is just 

right ! 

Watcher: I haven't my bathing suit. 

Swimmer: Never mind. I have another in the bathing-house. 

They all go on up through the wood-road and soon after emerge 
out in the water, with a row-boat, from which they dive, and which 
they upset and right again. 

An artist comes in with his canvas and easel, which he sets up 
and gets down to painting. The others do not disturb him and he works 
away for some time. 

Among those who were following the golf and who have lingered 
to watch others are a twenty-four-hour New Yorker and his Darien 
friend. 
New York Man : This is mighty nice, all this. I wish I could live 

out here. But I could not be away from my business. 



60 The Pageant of Darien. 

Mr. Country Towne: Why not? 

New York Man : Why, my dear fellow, I do not know what might 
happen. I must be in touch with the office all the time. 

Mr. Country Towne: Good deal better if you got away from it all, 
once in a while ; better for your work and better for you. And 
what about your wife and children? 

New York Man : Oh, we have a very nice governess for the little 
girl, and a tutor for the boy. He's a splendid fellow, really. 

He takes Bob around everywhere. 

Mr. Country Towne: But, good Heavens, what child wants a gov- 
erness or a tutor tagging around with them everywhere ! Did 
you when you were a kid? 

New York Man : Well, maybe there is something in that. Mary 
wants to come out into the country somewhere, and so do I. 
And I am going to when I am doing a little better. — Say, that was 
a corking play ! 

Mr. Country Towne: He's some golfer on his approaches! 

New York Man: And there's another! (The wife of the Darien 
man, who comes across the grounds.) Oh, there is Mrs. Towne! 
How do you do, Mrs. Towne ! 

Mrs. Country Towne: How do you do! I am so glad to see you! 

Mr. Country Towne: I tell, him, Bessie, he ought to come out here 
to live. 

Mrs. Country Towne: Yes, indeed. 

New York Man : I wish we could ! But my work is very exacting. 
We are looking forward to having a place in the country sometime. 

Mrs. Country Towne : You must come. You would find Darien 
very delightful. We all do. 

New York Man : I am sure we should. But I have to keep in touch 
with the office every minute. 

Mrs. Country Towne : That is what the men all say ! 

New York Man : Really ! I have not had a vacation for three years. 



The Pageant of Darien. 61 

Mr. Country Towne: And if you had a vacation, my dear fellow, 
you would not know what to do with it. You ought to come 
out here and learn how to rest, — regularly every night. Then 
you could keep up without working entirely on your nerves. 
Your employees do. When they leave the office, they forget it, 
and come back fresh in the morning. 

New^ York Man : Yes^ yes, but I have the responsibility and cannot — 

Mr. Country Towne : Of course you cannot, as long as you stay in 
the city. You must break away. 

Mrs. Country Towne: More than half of the people here have 

done just that, and were at first as strongly convinced as you 

that it was entirely impossible. Look at us. Do we not look 
care-free and well? 

New York Man : You surely do ! 

Mrs. Country Towne : We have all been in the same Slough of 
Despond. But now we have attained to the Celestial — Country. 
Really, Darien is a veritable place of rest and strength. Look 
at those children playing in the water! Your children ought to 
be among them ! 

A man on a horse, dragging an anise-seed bag, comes trotting 
down over the hill, crosses the grounds and goes down to the inlet, 
where he drags the bag in the water to lose the trail. 

New York Man: What's this? A hunt? 

Mr. Country Towne: Yes, the Darien Hunt have a run this after- 
noon, I believe. 
Mrs. Country Towne: It is such good fun! 

New York Man: Do you ride? 

Mrs. Country Towne: Oh, yes, though I am not riding this after- 
noon. That is something I have picked up since we came out 
here. 
A small motor-boat speeds up the inlet, circles around and comes 

back. 

New York Man : That is a fine little boat ! 



62 The Pageant of Darien. 

Mr. Country Towne : Yes, that is Franklin Jones' ! He has a lot 
of fun with it. Very fast and takes but very little water; goes 
anywhere, up a dry brook almost. A number of people have 
sail-boats but is too shallow for them to come up as high as this, 
of course. 

Mrs. Country Towne: Here they come! 

The fox-hounds are heard baying over the hill. Every one gets 
ready to watch them. Over the hill through the woods they come on 
the scent. After them comes the hunt, in riding dress, red jackets 
and all. The hounds lose the trail at the water and hunt around 
for it. They are coupled up and led off for a new cast, the people, 
both those on horseback and the others going off all together. The 
New York Man is jubilantly enthusiastic. 



The Pageant of Darien. 63 



INTERLUDE III: THE COMMUTERS 

It is morning, about seven or eight o'clock. The train is 
heard coming around the bend, the whistle blowing and the bell 
ringing. In the fresh crisp country air all is hurry and bustle. 
From either side of the field come running several men, with 
here and there a young woman, all running for the wood-road, 
which leads to the railroad station. Some of the men are putting 
on their coats or overcoats as they run. One stops just as he 
starts across the field to finish a cup of coffee, handing the cup 
back to his wife as he sprints ahead. Another hurriedly kisses 
his three half-dressed children and his wife, drops his bag in 
doing so, picks it up and goes ahead. A young woman drops a 
parcel of books as she runs; they fly in all directions and she has 
to stop to pick them up, others dodging around her or jumping 
over the books as they pass her. A third man gets half way 
across the field, stops suddenly, feels through his pockets franti- 
cally, runs back shouting "I've forgot something," disappears 
whence he came and in a minute comes out again on a straight- 
away with no stops. Still another man is well underway when 
his wife calls after him that he has not kissed her good-bye ; he 
shouts back, "I must catch this train," but he comes back. As he 
starts off again, she adds, "Now, remember to bring those things !" 
He ties a knot in his handkerchief and starts off once more. 

The locomotive gives a whistle. From one side comes a horse 
in a single-seated rig on the run, from which a man jumps as 
soon as they reach the road. The man instantly disappears into 
the wood-road and the horse is driven off at a more reasonable 
pace. From the other side comes tearing an automobile. From it 
a man jumps and disappears, even before it has a chance to stop, 
as the engine whistle blows again and the train is heard going off. 
At the last moment a man comes rushing out and off at full speed 



64 The Pageant of Darien. 

in a desperate effort to catch the train, his vest unbuttoned, his 
bag and hat in one hand, his coat, collar and tie in the other. 

All is quiet and humdrum for the day. The matutinal excite- 
ment is past. The women and children at their doorways take 
up the placid round of the day. One young boy brings out a lawn 
mower and starts to cut the grass. Two women chat together, 
one of them stepping inside now and then as she wipes the break- 
fast dishes. Some of the children start off together with straps 
of books to school. A young girl is heard playing exercises on 
the piano, and then blended with the exercise is heard a popular 
song screeched forth by a throaty phonograph. The fish man or 
the market man comes along with his wagon, sells something for 
dinner and drives on. The day is sunny and uneventful mostly, 
unless a bee drones along; and it is rather warm. Later several 
young people pass along with tennis rackets and balls, and a few 
small boys going for a game of base-ball, peace in their discussion 
being more subtle than evident. 

An engine whistle blows. From the station comes a solitary 
man with a bag of golf clubs. He puts down his clubs, makes 
his little tee off up there across the field by himself, and starts 
his little game of golf. Home early ! The single rig and the au- 
tomobile drive up and wait one on either side of the wood-road. 

The locomotive whistle is heard again at a distance, and the 
noise of the returning evening train. It is six or seven o'clock 
p. m. The whistle and the ringing of the bell comes nearer and 
nearer and then stops. Out from the wood-road on their way home 
from the station comes the procession of commuters. They are tired, 
most of them. Their step is not fast, but habitually regular. They are 
loaded with bundles of all kinds and sizes. Many of them are smoking. 
One of a more cheery group drops a pack of cards, which he picks 
up and puts into his overcoat pocket. Out a little ways into the 
field the commuters diverge, each one going down to one side or the 
other to his own home. Their wives and children are waiting for 
them. One man calls out to his wife to ask if supper is ready; he is 



The Pageant of Darien. 65 



hungry. The wife of the man who was commissioned to remember 
certain errands hails him from afar with the query, "Henry, did you 
get those things?" He drops all his remembered bundles in distress 
as he replies, "No, dear, I forgot; I have been exceedingly busy all day. 
I am awfully sorry." "Well, I think if you love me, you might re- 
member one little thing I ask you to do. — Well, never mind." He 
picks up his bundles and follows her miserably into the house. An- 
other woman calls to her wearied spouse to hurry, they have just time 
to get a bite before they take the train in town to go to the theatre. 
The question, "Did you bring a paper?" is heard more than once. 
The man of the three children is greeted with wild delight by them 
all with cries of, "Here's father! Here's papa!" as they run out to 
meet him in pajamas and nighties, and "What have you got in there?" 
"Oh, just things for the house." He puts down his bundles, picks 
each one up, kisses them in turn, and says, "Now run off to bed. 
Scamper!" "Can't we stay up a little while? We never see father 
at all." "No," endorses the mother, "run off to bed. It is late. It 
is time you were asleep long ago." In they go, and the father wearily, 
but with a sigh of content at being home again, goes in after them. 
The train whistle and bell are heard and the noise of the train de- 
parting farther and farther away, until all is still, and all the com- 
muters are at home. It is night. 



The Pageant of Darien. 67 



EPISODE 9: THE NEW DARIEN 

(1915) 

A man and his wife come in and look around. They have with 
them a little light luggage. 
Mr. Newcome : I wonder if this is the place. 

Mrs. Newcome: It looks like it, from what the station agent told us. 
It must be here. 

A lady, a resident of Darien and member of the Women's 
Civic League, comes in. Her daughter is with her. 

Mrs. Newcome: Can you tell us if this is where the folk dances are 

to be ? 
Mrs. Darien : Yes, this is the place. In a very short time now. 

Mrs. Newcome: Is the public admitted? May we stay to see them? 
Mrs. Darien : Certainly ; we shall be very glad to have you. 

Two gentlemen, the husband and son of the Darien lady come 
in. They greet them and also the Newcomes. 

Mr. Darien: Well, all ready? Good afternoon. You are interested 
in folk-dancing? 

Mr. New-come : Why, yes, in a way ; but more in the town. 

Mr. Darien : Indeed! You know Darien, then? 

Mr. Newcome : No. We have neither of us ever been here before 
to-day. But it struck us as such an extraordinary town. 

Mr. Darien : Why so ? 

Mrs. Darien : That is curious. Do tell us. 

Mr. Newcome: Why, we were passing by in the train. It was a 
fast train, but it stopped here, and we were immediately struck 
by the beauty, the attractiveness of the station square. 

Mrs. Newcome: Yes, my husband said at once, "Good heavens! What 
place can this be?" 



68 The Pageant of Darien. 

Mrs. Darien: It is beautiful at the station, isn't it? We take a 
great deal of pride in the appearance we present to the passing 
public. 

Mr. Darien : Both stations, the Darien and the Noroton, we intend 
shall be as beautiful, as attractive, as you said, as they can be 
made. We want them to attract. 

Mr. NeHvcome: They certainly do. Mrs. Newcome said, "Let us 
get out and see this place !" And right on the spur of the moment 
— here we are ! 

Mrs. Newcome: We noticed the swans and the ducks in the pond 
there near the station. In fact, we went and watched them a 
little. How do you happen to have these swans? And such 
a variety of them ! Really, this is an extraordinary town ! Most 
towns would never dream of having a swan-pond — much less 
of having it right in the railroad station park. 

Mr. Darien : Why, that is the pond of a bird farm. It is a local 
business. It is not a natural history garden. Simply the owner 
has had the side of his place toward the station treated so that 
it will harmonize with the landscaping of the station park. 

Mrs. Newcome: And as there is no crude advertising, it is, of course, 
the best kind of an advertisement. 

Mrs. Darien : We use what we have. There is something dis- 
tinctive and different in every town, if the people would only 
recognize the fact and take advantage of it. 

Mr. Darien : Yes, everything here is done so as to serve both the 
private interests and desires of the individual and the general 
pleasure and benefit of the public, without their conflicting with 
each other. For instance, the beautiful appearance of the busi- 
ness street, as well as of the residential streets, is a thing that 
can be enjoyed by all and that concerns all. 

Mrs. Newcome: And what is this folk-dancing? We asked the 
station agent if there was anything of interest to see in other 
parts of the town and he told us of this. This is an extraor- 
dinary town ! 

Mrs. Darien : You will see what it is. Here they come now. Here 
are some of our foreign-born and some of our American-born 



The Pageant of Darien. 69 



young people who are going to dance the Tarentella all at 
the same time. Of course, all our young people are organized 
as Boy Scouts or Camp Fire (jirls. You know about them? 

Mr. Newcome: Oh, yes, certainly. 

The Tarentella is danced. 

Mr. Newcome: Is this a Socialist communtiy? 

Mr. Darien : Gracious goodness, no ! We simply respect each other. 
That is all. Everyone here can and does keep to himself as 
much as he pleases, chooses his own friends, and everything. 
But we recognize that we all have certain common interests in 
recreation as well as in business or in anything else. It is not 
really a new idea. There is nothing new about parks for all of 
the public, nor about public concerts and celebrations. Why 
not something of common recreation all the year for the whole 
town? 

Mr. Newcome: How did you get such a harmonious public opinion 
in the town? All this would be impossible without that! 

Mr. Darien : I suppose it comes from the fact that all of us air our 
views freely on matters of public interest in the local news- 
paper — The Darien-Noroton Review. It makes no difference 
if we agree with or oppose the views supported by the paper. We 
all write and we all read. We have lively times once in a while, 
but we have no sulky citizens. So we get into the habit of all 
co-operating and yet all having our own opinions, — and express- 
ing them. 

Mr. Newcome: A town can have anything it wants if all the people 
will co-operate. You have fine roads, I see. This road up here, 
where does it go to? 

Mr. Darien : It is the main road between New York and New 
Haven. It connects the two ends of the town. They used to 
be distinct villages, Darien and Noroton. but the good road 
and the Social Center have drawn them right together, so that 
it really is all one town now. 

Mrs. Newcome: Social Center? What is that? 

Mrs. Darien : That is a building and grounds up on the Post Road 
half way between the two ends of the town. 



70 The Pageant of Darien. 

Mrs. Newcome: Oh, yes, we saw it. 

Mr. NeJwcome : I thought it was a club. 

Mr. Darien: It is, really. It is the town's club. All the recreation 
of the town centers there — when it wants to. People can en- 
gage the hall at a very low price for private dances. Public 
lectures and concerts are given there through the winter. There 
is a stage for the dramatic clubs. Mass meetings on public ques- 
tions are held there. The town tennis and golfing tournaments 
are managed there. The Darien Hunt assembles there — and so 
on. 

Mr. Newcome: I should like to live here. This is an extraordinary 
town ! 

Mrs. Newcome: It surely is! How is commutation? 

Mr. Darien : The rates are very reasonable. It used to be fearfully 
high, but co-operation in dealing with the matter brought relief. 
It is only $9.00 a month, and a little more than an hour from 
Grand Central. When we get home we find everything that is 
restful and delightful — in a real home town. 

Mr. Newcome: Are there many commuters here? 

Mr. Darien: Yes, there are quite a lot of us that go in all together 
and come out all together every day! 

Mr. Newcome: All together is the word here, eh! 
Mr. Darien : That's it ! 
Mr. & Mrs. Newcome: What is this? 
Mr. & Mrs. Darien : I do not know. 

Mr. & Mrs. Newcome: This is an extraordinary town! Listen! It 
is like a dream. 



The Pageant of Darien. 71 



FINALE: THE COMMUNITY HOME 

The group of people of The New Darien remain. The Man, 
bearing his burden, (the same Man as in the Introduction) and his 
family come in and go up through the middle of the field to the Place 
of Rest and Strength. They build a fire there. As the fire blazes up, 
the Angel comes forth from the woods, accompanied by the other 
Angels. The Forest and Water Spirits also appear in the edge of 
the woods and along the shore. The Darien people watch all that 
happens with amazement. The Man notices them and goes down 
toward them, his hands extended cordially toward them. 

The Man: Friends, your faces are unfamiliar to me but I feel that 
we are kin. 

Darien Citizen : Good afternoon, sir ! I trust we have not intruded 
upon your privacy. We have been much interested and astonished 
at what we have seen. 

The Man : I assure you there is no intrusion. What I count my 
great good fortune, I am glad and anxious to share with all. 
For at last I have found the Place of Rest and Strength. But 
maybe you have always lived in this blessed place ? 

Darien Citizen : On the contrary, we were amazed at what we saw 
when you built the fire. 

The Man : Come up then. Truly I tell you that here close at hand 
is that happy place that all men seek, the Place of Rest and 
Strength. With me and my family come and enjoy its benefits. 

Darien Citizen: Is there anything we must do to share in these 

benefits ? 
The Man: Only bring wood and help feed the fire. Then shall 

we be all as one family ! 

The Darien people gather some wood, and following the Man 
go up to the Place of Rest and Strength. As they throw their wood 



72 The Pageant of Darien. 

upon the fire, the Angel raises her sword and the other Angels their 
arms in blessing. The people kneel for a moment. 

Darien Citizen : There are many others who have lived in this 
neighborhood before ourselves. May they not also come to this 
Place of Rest and Strength? 

The Man : Most certainly may they come and most welcome ! For 
truly I tell you, if all the people of the past and of the present 
gather together around this Place of Rest and Strength, the 
gracious Spirit of America will come and abide in this place 
forever ! 

The Man steps forward and raises his hands summoning all the 
generations of Darien. From either side of the field they come singing, 
every man, woman and child bringing a faggot. As they pass near the 
fire they throw their wood upon the fire, and gather in a mass in 
the lower part of the field. As the fire blazes up, in the music the 
Angel theme towers higher and higher, as if at last, with the com- 
ing of all the people, it were free for its fullest expression. 

THE SONG OF THE PEOPLE OF DARIEN. 

Men of every age we come, 

Down the years with joyous feet. 

Gathering round the common fire 
Where the past and future meet! 

Singing songs of days that were. 

Greet we here the future's fire. 
Bringing wood to feed its blaze 

And the dreams of old desire ! 

Ours the hands that made that fire! 

We have watched it through the night! 
Hail to each succeeding day 

That shall keep it burning bright! 

Through the wood-road comes riding on horse-back the figure 
of the State of Connecticut, in blue with a silver wreath, the shield 
of the State on her arm and the flag of the State in her hand. She 
is accompanied by the other New England States and New York on 



The Pageant of Darien. 73 



horse-back, each carrying her shield but not her flag. They ride out 
from the wood-road and diverge, forming two groups on either side of 
the road. Connecticut rides back into the woods and returns escorting 
America. America is on a white horse. She is clothed in white. She 
carries the shield of the United States on her arm and the American 
flag in her hand. As America and Connecticut come forward from out 
of the wood-road, the other States fall in behind. To the music of The 
Star Spangled Banner, America and the States ride forward and 
around to a position behind the fire. America lifts the flag high in the 
air. All the people of the pageant kneel, and sing the last stanza, 
the prayer stanza of "America". 

AMERICA. 

Our fathers' God, to Thee, 
Author of Liberty, 

To Thee we sing! 
Long may our land be bright 
With Freedom's holy light ! 
Protect us by Thy might, 

Great God, our King! 

Then rising, all the people march in massed column as in review, 
past America, Connecticut and the States, going out by the wood- 
road, singing as they go. 

THE RECESSIONAL SONG OF DARIEN. 

Hail to Thee, iVmerica ! 

Freedom's Home and glorious State! 
Life and all we have to Thee 

Now again we consecrate ! 

Thine we are as now we pass 

On into the gathering night. 
Seeking still the greater dawn 

And the joyous morning light! 



74 The Pageant of Darien. 



Far off in the sun-set glow 

Of the great on-coming years, 
There the future's clarion calls 

Greet our eager listening ears ! 

Ye who e'er shall dwell here, come 
From the passing throngs of men, 

Follow down the westward path. 
And sing the Song of Darien ! 

When all the people have gone, America, Connecticut and the 
other States ride out after them by the wood-road, leaving only the 
Man and his family, the Angels and the Spirits. The Spirits retire 
back into the woods and to the water. The Angel leads the Man 
and his family up the hill, the way they went in the Introduction, the 
other Angels also accompanying them. As they disappear, the Tide 
with all her Water Spirits washes up over the field and back again 
out to sea. 



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